Before settlement brought towns and dams, the rapids near The Dalles were impassable, requiring a difficult portage around the river and its enclosing cliffs. By 1913 plans were underway to create a scenic roadway, now the Historic Columbia River Highway, similar to Charlemagne's winding roads through the Rhine Valley.
The Columbia provides a wide travel corridor and recreational playground. Through a collaboration of preservation and developmental interests, many public recreational areas have been set aside for hiking, camping, fishing, rock climbing, wildlife viewing and other activities. Phone (541) 308-1700 for more details, including safety information.
Things to Do
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center MuseumCrown Point-Vista House State Scenic Corridor
Historic Columbia River Highway